Miss Black USA on Activism and Embracing Black Beauty

Madison Gibbs is one of those pretty women who also looks good on paper. At 23 she’s pursuing a law degree at Howard University and interning with Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby. She’s a sorority girl—a member of Delta Sigma Theta—and she graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina A&T. She also volunteers as a youth mentor. Heavy is the head that wears the Miss Black USA crown.

Make no mistake about it: She does think the Black Lives Matter movement is important, and she’ll tell anyone who will listen that the Miss Black USA pageant is more about scholarship than beauty. One of the perks of wearing the crown is receiving funds to help pay her law-school tuition. The Greensboro, North Carolina native chats with Allure to talk about activism and embracing black beauty.

Tell me how you became interested in pageantry.I was first introduced to pageantry my senior year of high school. I ran for the queen of my high school—James Benson Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. I’d never done a pageant before that. I ran against nine other women and actually ended up winning.

What has it been like to hold the crown of Miss Black USA?It’s been an amazing opportunity. I’ve been so gracious to have been afforded the opportunity to travel [domestically and internationally]. Ultimately, the traveling and the people that I’ve met and connected with have made me grow as a person. It’s allowed me the opportunity to inspire people and mentor others and children. I participated in Disney Dreamers Academy, which is a program by Steve Harvey and Essence magazine. I got to speak alongside Steve Harvey, MC Lyte and Silento [where] I was able to empower children to reach their dreams. This title has really just given me the national platform to at least make a difference in the world on my part.

Black beauty has historically not been celebrated in mainstream, but there’s a moment right now where we’re seeing black women shine. How do you think being Miss Black USA uplifts black beauty?I think when people look at me they’re able to relate to me. I don’t want to put on a façade of the stereotype of what beauty looks like on the outside and what you are supposed to be doing in life right now. I show who I genuinely am, so I think that’s definitely a way to empower women.

I know one thing, personally, was wearing natural hair. I’ve been natural since before it was cool because my hair just couldn't take a relaxer. One of the biggest things about being Miss Black USA was when I first won the pageant, I did have weave in my hair even though I wear my hair natural every day. I’m doing these big events, I’m being showcased in all these magazines, newspapers, and on social media, and I wasn’t really comfortable wearing my natural hair at first. It took a while, but I ended up being very comfortable presenting my natural self. Black women are diverse. America is diverse. I think that’s something that our pageant really tries to encourage and support. I’m able to wear my natural hair and be supported and still be looked at as beautiful. You’re able to have curves because we support all different types of women.

How do you respond to people who think beauty pageants are regressive for women? And shouldn’t women, particularly black women, be able to celebrate beauty and other issues we deem important?The Miss Black USA system is definitely a scholarship pageant. I try to clarify that to people as often as I’m able to. I am encouraged and supported, and I receive money to go to school through this scholarship pageant. Education is definitely top priority. I even traveled to Africa to showcase how different women aren’t really afforded the same educational opportunities that we may have in the States. Even in the States, some people aren’t afforded the same educational opportunities. I think that a lot of people who do these pageants have a purpose and have a platform behind them to really further not only themselves but their community and the people around them. Women are very much capable of holding the weight of the world on their shoulders and still being awesome and great in everything that they do in life. If anything, pageants support and progress women to be the best that they can be.

Let’s switch gears to activism. What do you think about the Black Lives Matter Movement?I think it’s an awesome movement to open the eyes and educate people about what black society is going through. It’s something black people have been facing and dealing with since the very beginning. Honestly, I think people are tired of [just] talking about it. I think people are angered. The most important thing for us as a society is to charge the people with power in Congress and [other] leaders—not only federally and on the national level, but our state and local leaders—to change laws, to actually implement things. That’s how we get things changed.

What has it been like working with State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby?It’s been incredible. I think she’s an amazing person. Currently I’m in the major investigations unit and I have also been recruited to help out with Mosby’s junior state's attorney program [for] public-school [students] in Baltimore City. I work with those kids twice a week. I’m learning things every day just as I’m teaching them things every day. So I love being here.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given that you use in your life daily?To pick and choose my battles. As a future lawyer, I like to fight and argue everything. Now I’m learning when to pull back, when to be quiet, when to listen more. That’s something I’m still growing with.

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